Charles Smith Hamilton

Charles Smith Hamilton (November 16, 1822 – April 17, 1891) was a career United States Army officer who served with distinction during the Mexican–American War. He also served as a Union Army general during the early part of the American Civil War. After the war, he was appointed U.S. marshal for the Eastern District of Wisconsin by President Ulysses S. Grant, and served as president of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

Early life Charles Smith Hamilton was born in Westernville, New York, and was raised in western New York. He entered the United States Military Academy in 1839 and graduated in 1843, standing 26th out of 39 cadets; he was a classmate of Ulysses S. Grant, Christopher C. Augur, Joseph J. Reynolds, and several other men who would go on to become generals in the Army.

First military service Upon his graduation, he was assigned to the 2nd U.S. Infantry Regiment as brevet second lieutenant. He was officially promoted to second lieutenant on November 17, 1845, and was assigned to the 5th U.S. Infantry, serving in the Army of General Zachary Taylor in the early phases of the Mexican–American War. He distinguished himself again at the battles of Contreras and Churubusco, and was given an honorary brevet to captain. But he was severely wounded at the Battle of Molino del Rey. In March 1862, Hamilton's brigade was sent to engage in reconnaissance-in-force to Stonewall Jackson's camp at Winchester, Virginia. He successfully occupied the city on March 13, but found that Jackson and his corps had escaped the day before. Before the month-long siege preparations were complete, Hamilton was transferred to the Western Theater where he commanded the 3rd Division in the Army of the Mississippi at the battles of Iuka and Corinth. Following Corinth in October 1862, he was promoted to major general, effective from September 19, 1862. and corps of the Army of the Potomac, the Army of the Mississippi, as well as in the Army of the Tennessee.

During the months of January and February 1863 Hamilton was in simultaneous command of the Dist. of West Tennessee, Dist. of Corinth, the Left Wing of XVI Corps, and XVI Corps. While in command at Corinth, he began intriguing for higher command against Generals Hurlbut and James B. McPherson, which drew Grant's ire. When Grant ordered him to Vicksburg to serve under General John Alexander McClernand, Hamilton offered his resignation from the U.S. Army on April 13, 1863. Grant gladly accepted the resignation, forwarding several pages of documentation to Washington to support his case.

After the war, Hamilton was elected as a Veteran Companion of the Wisconsin Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

Later years

After his army service Hamilton became a U.S. marshal and a paper manufacturer. He died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1891 and is buried there in Forest Home Cemetery.

Personal life and family Charles Hamilton was a son of Zeyn Alasman Hamilton and his wife Sylvania ( Putnam).

He married Sophia Jane Shepard on February 9, 1849, in Chicago, Illinois.